Midweek ending 7th October by Mason Norton

The midweek action this week was to do with the first round of the Jelson Homes Senior Cup. Two sides from the Everards Brewery Premier Division have byes to the second round- Desford & Caterpillar and Barrow Town- whilst the 14 others go through the first round.

Last week, it was Hathern who were upsetting the apple cart and defeating Step 6 opposition, and following in their stead were Aylestone Park Reserves and Burbage & Huncote. Park, whose reserve side entered the Senior Cup for the first time this year, with their first team now playing at Step 5 and going into the Challenge Cup, made the short trip to Canal Street on Tuesday night to take on Leicester St Andrews of United Counties League Division One and won a thriller 8-4, with Aaron Preston scoring a hat-trick, Charley Kilburn and Marley Spencer both bagging braces, and Dan Henfrey rounding off the scoring.

Wednesday night saw Burbage get past UCL side Saffron Dynamo after their game at Cambridge Road finished 2-2 in normal time, James Graham and Liam Pescott scoring for the visitors, with Graham's effort being lashed into the top corner from 20 yards out. That took the game to penalties, where Burbage held their nerve to come through 5-4 and book their place in the last 16. In fact, the only UCL side to triumph against LSL opposition in this round was Kirby Muxloe, who defeated Sileby Town 3-1, Callum Chetwynd scoring for Sileby.

If LSL sides fared well against UCL sides, it was a different story against teams in Division One of the Midland Football League, the other Step 6 league covering Leicestershire. All three Leicestershire-based MFL sides won their ties against Senior League opposition in midweek. MFL Div1 leaders Hinckley AFC walloped Magna 73 7-0 on Monday night, whilst on Tuesday night, Heather St John, returning to the Senior Cup after relegation from Step 5 last season in a nightmare season, faced Ashby Ivanhoe Knights at the NFU Ground in a local derby that had as much going on off the pitch as on it, Knights entering the Senior Cup in lieu of their first team, who won last year's competition, and will be playing in the Challenge Cup after having been promoted to Step 5, but Heather were too good for their hosts, coming through 3-0. Ingles were run a little bit closer at home to Highfield Rangers, but eventually came through 2-1.

Meanwhile, fellow NLS Feeder League the Peterborough & District League's interest in the competition came to an early end as both their teams taking part exited in the first round after defeats on penalties. Oakham United hosted Thurnby Rangers of the LSL, and drew 1-1, with Thurnby coming through the spot-kicks 6-5. Reigning Peterborough League champions and current leaders Uppingham Town travelled to Senior Cup debutants AFC North Kilworth and came unstuck after drawing 2-2 in normal time, NK winning 4-2 on penalties.

There were also two all-LSL ties in the first round, and neither of them were the walkovers that they looked on paper. Friar Lane & Epworth took the lead at home to high-flying Ellistown on Tuesday night thanks to a Cole Witherington strike, before Luke Higgins equalised from the penalty spot just before half-time. Dan Yadav scored a brace midway through the half to leave Ellistown comfortable, only for Gary Warren to head home for FLAE eight minutes from the end, leaving Ellistown hanging on, just coming through 3-2. Finally, Allexton & New Parks had to dig deep to get past FC Khalsa at New College, Ayrton Carter-Fell, Ryan Charles, Mason Smith and sub Jake Wain their scorers in a 4-3 win.

Normal service is resumed this weekend, with Ramble Round the Premier and Ramble Round the Divisions both featuring some of the longest trips being made this season. We'll see you then.